PITTSBURGH -- While the NFL draft and free agency loom along with an empty starting inside linebacker spot in the Steelers defense, general manager Kevin Colbert sees them both.

He also remembers Tyler Matakevich.

The 2016 seventh-round pick out of Temple was the immediate backup to both inside linebacker spots this season. When Ryan Shazier went down with a spinal injury against the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 4, Matakevich did immediately replace him.

But his defensive season ended in the same game with a left labrum injury. Pittsburgh's defense, personnel department and 2017 campaign got unsettled even more. Sean Spence got a job out of it. Matakevich, Colbert said Thursday, still has one.

"I think we lose sight of the fact sometimes that Tyler Matakevich was hurt within I believe it was the same quarter that Ryan was hurt. He was our No. 1 backup," Colbert said. "Then unfortunately we couldn't play him at linebacker anymore because of further risk of injury."

He joked about how close to 100 percent the shoulder would be again. But with some level of seriousness a month later, his general manager said he factors into just the Steelers fill the hole that was the heart of their defense.

"Tyler's certainly in the mix," Colbert said. "That gives you an option."